One of the fastest ways to ward off winter dreariness is to take up a cold-weather sport. Snowboarding is a top choice for thrill-seeking guys, and if you take to it, you’ll suddenly find yourself whooping with joy when the forecast says snow. To prepare you for this new adventure, we’ve outlined the top pieces you’ll need as a beginner, as well as how to best style them, thanks to our friends at O’Neill.

If this will be your first time snowboarding, it doesn’t make financial sense to buy gear like a board and boots when these can be rented fairly inexpensively. Instead, invest in items like a snowboarding jacket that is versatile enough to wear on the mountain and serve as your winter jacket in the city. O’Neill’s Escape Helix, for example, is insulating enough to cope with the harsh conditions you’ll encounter while 'boarding, but when purchased in black, it also makes a great addition to your winter-casual wardrobe. For guys looking to make more of a style statement on and off the slopes, try the sunshine yellow or bright-green version of this jacket. Team it with a pair of O’Neill pants for snowboarding and with jeans tucked into rugged boots in the city.

Escape Refined PantDespite the visions you have of yourself expertly carving your way to the bottom of the slope, the truth is that you’ll spend the majority of your initial attempts sliding down the hill on your behind, which means that a durable pair of snowboarding pants is the smartest purchase you can make. O’Neill’s Escape Refined pant is a good buy for first-time boarders because, from a practical perspective, they’re lightweight and water-resistant. They also feature plenty of pockets for storing items like chapstick and change. At the lodge, these pants do double duty as an uber-refined version of sweatpants and look seriously cool paired with a chunky knit sweater or even a simple fitted hoodie.

ALFA L/SLV ShirtO’Neill is the master when it comes to creating pieces that blend fashion with function. Take the label’s ALFA L/SLV shirt, for instance. At first glance, all you see is a well-cut flannel button-down that resembles the kind you might wear with distressed denim and hiking-style boots on your days off. All is not as it seems, however, as this piece has been treated with a durable water-repellent coating so that any water that hits its surface beads up and rolls off. Layer this technologically advanced shirt under your snowboarding jacket to further protect your skin from moisture or wear it on its own at the end of the season when it’s warm enough to board in a shirt.